Company disposes of old electronics

Published
12:00 am CST, Saturday, January 18, 2014

GODFREY — Illinoisans can’t just throw their obsolete electronics into the trash, but a local business has the solution.

The list of banned landfill materials includes televisions, DVD players, video game consoles and computer components, among other items. This leaves many consumers wondering what they should do with these items once they are no longer usable. Many recycling centers do not take the items and it is illegal to dispose of them with the normal trash.

Local business CJD E-cycling will dispose of unwanted electronics. To increase awareness about their services as well as their year-round drop-off locations, CJD partnered with Lewis and Clark and the RiverBend Growth Association for an e-cycling drive Friday and Saturday at the parking lot across from the campus of Lewis and Clark off Godfrey Road.

“Teaming up with Lewis and Clark is always good,” said Kate Wolff of CJD. “We always have a great turnout.”

CJD E-cycling began two years ago and has a year-round drop-off location near the college at 4758 Humbert Road. They also have drop-off locations in Jersey, Madison, and Macoupin counties.

“We recycle anything with a cord and anything metal,” Wolff said.

The company recently launched a video on its website, www.cjdecycling.com. It shows what happens to electronics brought to the facility. Items with sensitive information, such as old hard drives, are destroyed physically or immediately have the data wiped from them to protect consumers’ privacy. CJD E-cycling will go to businesses and provide on-site hard drive destruction as well.

“They can stand in the back of the truck and watch us shred them,” Wolff said.

Many residents have sought places to send their used batteries and light bulbs, which are harmful to the environment if placed in landfills. The chemicals inside batteries and the mercury inside the new-styled, power-saving bulbs will pollute the ground. Wolff said CJD E-cycling will handle these items, but it will cost a small fee. There is an optional donation of $5 to offset the cost of recycling television sets as well.

The next drive, which will be to bring people to the year-round drop-offs, will be on Saturday, Feb. 1. The drive will occur simultaneously at two locations: the main facility on Humbert Road and the drop-off location in Edwardsville, 200 Second Ave. in Edwardsville at PrairieWind LLC.

Other drop-off locations include: The Macoupin Center for Developmentally Disabled, 700 E. Elm St. in Carlinville, MAW Salvage, 1020 Fosterburg Road in Brighton and MAW Salvage North, 11589 State Highway 16 in Fieldon. The phone number for CJD E-cycling is 618-433-9200.